The Government Affairs Committee usually meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 3:30 p.m. in the GHBA Boardroom.

2012 Government Affairs Chair: Lisa Clark, Ryko Development

The Government Affairs Program of the Greater Houston Builders Association covers local, state, and federal issues.  The Government Affairs Committee:

• Monitors and reviews codes, ordinances and legislation which directly impacts the
   homebuilding industry
• Communicates with elected officials and policy makers regarding our industry issues.
• Formulates and advocates for needed changes, and
• Educates members of the association about current issues, new laws, regulatory and
   administrative matters.

The Committee works closely with the Texas Association of Builders on state issues and has direct contact with the 42 state legislators in our area, as well as county and city officials.  Although the program's primary focus is at the state and local levels; the committee monitors and provides input on federal legislation and agency activity directly to our Federal officials and through the National Association of Homebuilders.

Local Issues

• GHBA secured changes to the City of Houston Development Participation Contracts to allow
   them to be administratively approved.
• GHBA worked with Center Point Energy to put a new power installation policy in place for
   subdivisions.
• A GHBA Energy Task Force has worked with the City of Houston on the adoption of the 2006
   IECC and a requirement for a performance standard 15% more efficient than code to go into
   effect on October 1, 2009.
• GHBA has worked with the City of Houston Planning Department and the Houston Archeological
   and Historic Commission on reasonable changes to the Historic Preservation Criteria to help
   promote compatible construction in Historic Districts.
• GHBA has been involved with the City of Houston Public Works Department to ensure that any
   changes to drainage requirements are reasonable including a delay in removing an exemption
   from Chapter 9, the Drainage ordinance, to determine the most beneficial way to accomplish
   the goal.
• Continued work with the City of Houston Planning Commission regarding potential changes to
   chapter 42, the COH development ordinance, including additional land use restrictions. 

State Issues

• GHBA actively worked with the Texas Association of Builders on several interim charges within
   the State Legislature, including the TRCC Sunset Process.
• GHBA provided testimony at several interim legislative hearings involving Building codes and
   land use.